Gilbert, AZ—Peter Lau aged 72 passed away earlier this week from kidney complications. Peter’s true joy was raising horses, talking about horses and riding well-bred gaited horses through the wilds of Arizona. He didn’t smoke and didn’t drink, but he jokingly said he would probably save money if he gave up horses and took up drinking.
Peter, who was of Chinese descent, was sent to the United States alone when he was 15 years old from Vietnam. At that time the South Vietnamese army was conscripting teenage boys to fight the Viet Cong.
When Vietnam fell in 1975 to the Viet Cong Peter lost contact with his mother and sister. His father was kidnapped and murdered by the communists in 1967.
He was alone and became a man on his own during his adolescent and college years in the U.S. It wasn’t until the early 1990’s he reconnected with his mother and sister by word of mouth of a Chinese cowboy living in Phoenix.
Peter was a self-made man and traveled across the US making his way to Arizona. He had heard that he could be a cowboy there. He always admired the cowboy John Wayne movies growing up. Always wanting to be a cowboy, he spent every free moment working with horses. Peter was a kindhearted person and only said good things about others. He was loved by many.
Peter was a follower of Jesus Christ and he would share his faith often.
Peter was proud to be an American, and loved the freedom of Arizona. He traveled the world and brought joy to others around him. Peter didn’t have children but was very close to his sister’s family and considered his nephew Freddy and niece Heather his own, along with their children his grandchildren.
There will be a Celebration of Peter’s life this coming Friday, February (2-4-22) at the Paloma Community Church 3215 S. Sossaman Rd, Bld. 1, Mesa, AZ 85212. Service starts at 5:00 PM.
In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Salt Water River Management Group. Peter loved riding and seeing the wild horses.